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The Woodcut Art of J. J. Lankes. By WELFORD DUNAwAY TAYLOR. Boston: David R. Godine, Publisher, 1999. xiv, 112 pp. $40.00.
THE immediate appeal of this book, appropriately, is visual. It is a handsomely designed, large-format volume, with weighty, cream-colored paper and clear, crisp illustrations that pop off the pages. Julius James Lankes's skill as an expert craftsman comes through without dispute, giving credence to the author's assertion that the woodcutter's body of work-some 1,300 designs-"may be said to rival any similar body of work produced in this country in terms of richness, technical skill, and historical significance" (p. 2). The presentation and organization of textual material is equally clear and appealing. Taylor opens with a "Chronology" of Lankes's life. Two distinct sections follow: an illustrated discussion of the woodcut art of J. J. Lankes, including not only biographical information but also a helpful explanation of the technique of the art, and a portfolio of one hundred woodcuts.
Taylor balances the portfolio nicely. Portraiture, commercial work, decorative details, book illustrations, and Christmas cards (a favorite genre of the artist) exhibit the full range of Lankes's skills. There is, of course, a selection of the "Old Virginia" scenes, made during Lankes's years in Newport News, from 1925 to 1951. These are the images most Virginians know today. His range of other subjects, then, will offer a pleasant surprise to many readers.
Taylor's informed and honest portrayal of Lankes is every bit as captivating as the illustrations. J. J. Lankes possessed an unusual artistic gift and explained it as an instinctive impulse that began as early as grammar school. This creative flair, however, was accompanied by a disposition unsuited to the practical art of daily living. Perhaps Lankes's most unfortunate trait was a strong tendency to see himself as the victim. As fellow graphic artist Ray Nash put it, Lankes "would always be nagged by the feeling of having been cheated" (p. 18). Lankes also preferred to distance himself from...